Adventures, Anecdotes and Lessons Learned in the Art of Conversation

When I’m feeling blue, I will often self-medicate… by watching reruns of America’s Funniest Home Videos or two full hours of SpongeBob SquarePants. A good belly laugh will often take me right out of that rut. But did you know that laughter also has anti-aging benefits? According to this infographic, laughter helps tone facial muscles and increase blood supply to the face, giving it a healthy glow. Laughter also burns calories, lower blood sugar levels, strengthens the immune system, reduces food cravings and boosts energy.

To quote Nicolas Chamfort, “The most wasted of all days is that in which we have not laughed.” Laughter truly is the best medicine. Here’s wishing you a day of love, laughter and light.

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Over the years, very few things have affected or upset me. And when they do, I comfort myself with endless episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants and America’s Funniest Home Videos.

At the beginning of our relationship, my swift emotional recoveries confounded my husband. He couldn’t understand how I could get over things so quickly. Is it that I’m hard-headed or just plain heartless? At first, I told him about the concept of Human Dynamics developed by Sandra Seagal (which explains how people process information and experiences) and that I am “physically-centered” – very systematic and practical, primarily concerned with progress and results rather than logic and structure.

Then, I had an “A-ha!” moment – perhaps it had nothing to do with my “information processing center” nor my heart of stone. I was just an Über-Optimist. A textbook Pollyanna (minus the denial and passiveness). How could one remain upset when one truly believed that there is always a positive spin to unfortunate events?

In Stephen Covey’s book, First Things First, he talks about living life guided by a “compass” of purpose and values rather than a “clock” of schedules and due dates, and where the long run is where we go for life balance. By focusing on the big picture, our ultimate legacy, we can identify what roles and activities need our attention right now, helping us determine what battles to face and decisions to make at each moment.

For example, on your way to visiting with family, are you really going to waste your time chasing after that rude driver that cut you off on the freeway, just to shake your fist impotently at him, or focus on driving safely so you can spend quality time with your loved ones?

Often, we’re distracted by what’s most urgent that we forget about what’s most important. This leads to frustration, dissatisfaction, and disappointment. By valuing and living in a “state of abundance”, we’re able to appreciate the little victories in life and find meaning in everyday occurrences.

We could all learn from Viktor Frankl, Holocuast survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, who says that “Life has [a purpose and] meaning under all circumstances, even in the most miserable ones.” He also said that “Everything can be taken from a man, but the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”

On November 28, Zig Ziglar — the “master of motivation” — passed away at the age of 86.

Zig Ziglar at the Get Motivated Seminar at the Cow Palace in Daly City, CA (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Born Hilary Hinton Ziglar in 1926 in Alabama, Zig has authored more than 29 sales and motivational books, including Selling 101, Over the Top, and Born To Win: Find Your Success Code.

I’ve always admired Zig and refer to many of his quotes during my own sales training sessions for Dale Carnegie. A fellow graduate, he began his career in public speaking and training as an instructor for the Dale Carnegie office in New York City in the early ’70s. I’d like to think that we are kindred spirits.

My favorite quote is his response to the buying objection “The price is high.”

I don’t think there’s any question about the price being high.When you add the benefits of qualitySubtract the disappointments of cheapnessMultiply the pleasures of buying something goodAnd divide the cost over timeThe arithmetic comes out in your favor. If it costs you a hundred dollars but does you a thousand dollars’ worth of good, then by any yardstick you’ve bought a bargain, haven’t you?

Here are a few other gems that have served me well over the years. We’ll miss you, Zig.

You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself.

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.

Remember that failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night.

You will get all you want in life if you help enough people get what they want.

Stop selling. Start helping.

The fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain.

It’s easier to explain price one time than apologize for quality forever.

Objections thrive on opposition, but die with agreement.

If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.

A goal properly set is halfway reached.

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude

Do you have your own favorite Zig Ziglar quotes? Would love to hear about them!

Human beings are social creatures. Whether we’re hand writing love letters or expressing our sentiments in 140 characters or less, we love to share our stories, listen in on gossip, and as this article states, “long for social connections.” So, how old is social media? Check out this infographic, courtesy of CopyBlogger.

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By far, the nicest, friendliest people I have ever met reside in Black Rock City, NV.

It’s a city that moves at a small town’s pace during the day, where neighborhood cafes serve up piping hot cappuccinos and pastries, and local pubs pour generous pints of pilsners and porters; where adults and children alike pedal bikes around dusty roads, and colorful, fanciful four-wheeled vehicles crawl along at a max speed of 5 mph.

At dusk, the city transforms into a bustling metropolis with hip clubs hosting world-class DJs and live bands, and even livelier revelers. No cover, no VIP lines, no pretense.

Residents let loose in true bacchanalian fashion, with herds hopping from one party to the next, or racing to the horizon to greet the dawn. 30-foot structures explode with dancing fire and the Esplanade glows Vegas-like with its line-up of neon lit car and characters. Lovers wander hand-in-hand through a circus of light and spectacle.

In this city, art is king. From mobile museums and makeshift galleries featuring paintings and photography; to interactive art that pulsate with light or breath fire with a touch of a button; to massive installations – three-story balsa wood temples, large-scale serpentine sculptures, and computer-controlled propane cannons that explode in rhythm.

Art is for more than just admiring. It is for touching, exploring, contemplating, climbing, participating and playing.

Black Rock City is located about 100 miles northwest of Reno near the southern end of the Black Rock Desert, past the towns of Empire and Gerlach. It is the site of Burning Man: an experiment in temporary community, a practice in radical self reliance, an opportunity for self-expression for a society of artists and activists, a collective effort with its own culture and traditions, where “transactions of value take place without money, advertising, or hype.”

The city is laid out like a giant wheel where the “spokes” are numbered radial streets which cross concentric lettered streets. And smack-dab in the middle is an 80-foot high anthropomorphic wooden structure that symbolizes different things to different people. It is neither deity nor demon, a towering effigy affectionately known as “the Man,” the spiritual center for the city’s inhabitants who abide by Ten Principles that include Radical Inclusion, Self-Reliance, and Self-Expression.

With the exception of ice offered for sale, no vending is allowed. Gifts, talent, and companionship become currency. Bartering, while frowned upon, occurs by mutual consent. No trash cans are provided, and yet there is no trash to be found. Everyone takes care of their own, and each other. Despite the dust and dirt of the desert, it is one of the most pristine places I have ever seen. The mind-altering experience feels like visiting another planet.

Unfortunately, it’s an evanescent city that only exists for one week out of the year, in the days leading up to Labor Day weekend. Covering less than five square miles, it is a fully functioning city of 50,000 locals, with a central post office, airport, mobile clinics, media mecca, law enforcement headquarters, volunteer medics and rangers, a department of public works, and even its own DMV (Department of Mutant Vehicles).

At the end of the week, the entire city is completely disassembled, many of its sculptures and structures burned, leaving no trace of the thriving city or its inhabitants. All that is left is a wide expanse of deserted flatlands, bookended by mountain ranges in the distance, sporadically attacked by hurricane-force winds and dust storms, and pierced by triple digit heat. 400 square miles of stark desert lake bed, the largest alkali/mud flats on Earth, simply known as “The Playa.” No running water, no electricity. Nothing.

In just a couple of days, my husband and I will be making our fourth annual pilgrimage to Black Rock City, joining a group of 43 other individuals from across the globe. Organized into a theme camp called DeMentha, our little footprint at 3:00 and D will be serving up “minty goodness” with afternoon Mojitos and music to chill by, all under a large shade structure equipped with a cooling mister.

I look forward to days spent riding bikes around with friends, and checking out music and art at every stop. Family-style dinners in our communal dining tent at sunset. Free shows, snow cones, movies, popcorn, popsicles. Freedom.

Participation in Burning Man continues to test our ability for self-sufficiency and allows us to explore our own eccentricities. Being forced to go without so many creature comforts, one becomes more appreciative of the simple things in life. Giving thanks takes on new meaning.

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Came across “life equations” while searching for inspirational business quotes. Don’t know who originally wrote it (there was no attribution) , but would like to thank them for coming up with something so clever. If you know the original author, please let me know 🙂